James Judson Patterson -- Farmer and State Representative

 

James Judson Patterson was born on January 25, 1852 in Trigg County, Kentucky, the third of nine children born to George Alexander Patterson and Margaret F. Carloss Patterson.  George was a prominent Baptist minister., as well as his father, and both he and Margaret were natives of Berkley County, Virginia, now West Virginia.  They had settled in Trigg County as early as the 1820s.

James grew up on a farm in Trigg County and on January 24, 1877, he married Sarah Elizabeth “Sallie” Thomas in Trigg County.  Sallie was born on November 12, 1849, one of nine children of Allison William Thomas and Catherine Elizabeth Carloss Thomas. Allison was a farmer and a native of Trigg County. Catherine was a native of Sumner County, Tennessee.  Sallies’ siblings were Benjamin Clay Thomas, born in 1852; Charles Edgar Thomas, born in 1854 and married Fannie Quick; Martha Jane Thomas, born in 1856 and married John Carr Quick; Tommy Wilson Thomas, born in 1858; John Quincy Thomas, born in 1860 and married Catherine Moore Bruff; Mary Allison Thomas, born in 1862 and married James. Henry Carloss; Kate Eliza Thomas, born in 1864 and married John Howard and later married James Watson “Pete” Bruff; and George Prentice Thomas, born in 1869 and married Annie Laurie Meacham.  Sallie was known as an ardent scholar and before her marriage, she taught school in Trigg County and was well remembered as being a fine instructor.

James was a prominent and well-known farmer in Trigg County.  He desired to be a public servant and in 1923 he ran for state representative for Trigg County as the Democrat candidate.  He was successful and served in the 1924 session of the Kentucky General Assembly.  He ran for re-election and served a second term in 1926.  Several of the main roads of Trigg County were placed in the primary road systems through his efforts in that body and he served on many prominent committees during his terms in the Legislature.  James did not shy away from controversy as a legislator.  In the 1924 session he was one of the legislators who helped to put through a controversial anti-parimutuel bill through the state house. The legislative controversy over parimutuel betting still exists even up to the current time.  In February of 1926, the House of Representatives was enlivened when he endeavored to put through a bill to punish teachers who taught anything concerning the Darwin Theory. The bill was killed when the speaker of the house ruled against it.

James and Sallie were the parents of three children, Anna Olivia “Annie” Patterson, born in 1877 and married William Samuel Wade; Allison Thomas Patterson, born in 1880 and married Nancy “Nannie” Quick Fort; and George Alexander Patterson, born in 1883.

James died on October 3, 1933 at the age of 81 at his home near Cadiz.  Four years earlier, he had suffered a stroke and been paralyzed.  He was buried in the Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Trigg County.  Sallie died on October 20, 1944 at the age of 94 at her home in Trigg County. She had suffered a recent fall resulting in a broken hip which was listed as the cause of death.  She was buried in the Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery next to her husband.

 

James and Sallie tombstone

LINEAGE: (James Judson Patterson was the husband of Sarah Elizabeth “Sallie” Thomas.  Sallie was the daughter of Allison William and Catherine Elizabeth Carloss Thomas.  Allison was the third child of Perry and Elizabeth Bridges Thomas.  Perry was the third child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)